Six Years

Kieran is six and sometimes I feel like he's sixteen, he's just very mature and responsible for his age.  He likes to open doors for people, is pretty polite, remembers to do his chores (and often times his brother's), is very affectionate, pretty independent, and when he puts his mind to something he usually is able to figure things out on his own. Don't get me wrong he drives me crazy some days and definitely has a mischievous streak but the problem is he knows how to use humor to get out of trouble or break the tension.

Kier loves his sleep and getting him up in the morning can be really hard - again I feel like he's a teenager! If he's overtired he definitely can be hard to reason with. Usually I can see when he's fading and do my best to get him somewhere that he can sleep. If that's not a possibility it's probably going to be a rough ride. K is loved by everyone. I always joke that I'm with a celebrity when I walk around town with him. Kids and adults often call across the street, wave, and run up for hugs from him. He just has one of those personalities that you want to be around and I love that we get the credit of being his parents.

Interesting Facts
Weight: 41 lbs

Height: 3' 10"

Clothing Size: It depends on the brand - some 5T items still fit him fine but for the most part XS big boys for shirt/jackets/PJs and Size 6 slim pants

Shoe Size: Little Kid 13 or Big Kid 1M depending on the brand

Kieran likes: Playing with Reed, drawing and art work, playing outside (bikes, soccer, baseball), time on his tablet, and reading.

Kieran dislikes: Anything that is left a mess, he is very particular about having things picked up and tidy. He also becomes very upset and disappointed in himself if he's caught doing something wrong.

Nicknames: Kier, K, K-Bug, Bug-a-boo, Bug, Monkey 2, Lovebug

Food: Kier is a pretty adventurous eater and will at least try most anything. His favorite foods are artichokes, parmesan cheese, yogurt, pizza, cheeseburgers, lasagna soup, quesadillas, pineapple, and grilled cheese. Starting Kindergarten this year means being able to get hot lunch and K usually chooses to do that 1-2 times per week. His favorite hot lunch is Galaxy Pizza. If he could pick anywhere to eat out it would probably be Bella Rose (on Thursdays because they have lasagna soup). He's not a huge fan of meat but will eat what is served to him. He loves all fruits and has a handful of vegetables he likes to eat raw dipped in salad dressing. Oh yes, and he LOVES sweets!

Communication: Kieran has blown us away with his reading. He can read almost anything we give him and regularly polishes off multiple books in one sitting. He doesn't seem to struggle much with sounding things out and has stopped reading out loud unless I tell him he has to. He was named the best reader in his class this fall.

Favorite Subject: He loves reading and has fun trying to figure out math problems.

Favorite Color(s): Blue and orange

 

Best Friends: Kieran and Lyla are still pretty inseparable. Presley, Jake, and Greg from his class he seems to play with a lot. Jeffrey and Mason go to his school and he is always excited when he gets to play with them. He also adores Connor and Rory and is really exited they might all get to go to the same school next year. Kieran adores Reed and for the most part they play really well together which is so sweet to see. He even told me knows he's lucky to have a brother that is his best friend.

How Reed is sleeping:  He goes to bed around 7:45 pm and sleeps until around 6:30 am most mornings. He sleeps in a twin bed, with a night light and sound machine, as well as his beloved Star Wars blankie. He doesn't take naps regularly anymore but if the kid is tired he will fall asleep wherever he is (car, dinner table, floor, etc.).

Milestones over the last year:

Kier had his first Happy Meal

He transitioned to a booster seat

K was invited to a school friend's Birthday party for the first time

Kieran now makes his own bed

He taught himself to snap and whistle

Kier felt an earthquake for the first time (7.1 Ridgecrest)

He can now tie his own shoes

K tried out two new sports - baseball (loved) and waterpolo (didn't love)

The Bug got to eat a school hot lunch for the first time

 

8 Years

Where to begin, I blinked and Reed's 1st grade year was over! I still have to take a second to remember he's in 2nd grade when someone asks. The jump from 1st to 2nd grade also meant another year of switching schools but this year he switched districts so now he'll be at the same school through 8th grade. It happened last minute and he was really upset about the change. He still gets teary eyed talking about his friends he doesn't see everyday anymore but the good news is he has already made some great new friends and is in class with a few kids he already knew. The big plus for us is not having to retrain a new staff, parent group, etc. about Reed's allergies every year or two.

 
Reed often leaves us scratching our heads. When we had to put Dodger to sleep we were so afraid to tell Reed but he hardly seemed upset. Fast forward to a few weeks later when we were watching a movie about a girl losing her dog and he's bawling. I think he is more empathetic than sentimental and truly feels bad for other people when they are upset more than when something happens to himself. We've been putting a lot of pressure on him lately to be more responsible. There has been a shift in the last few months and our expectations of what he should be capable of remembering and be able to take care of on his own have definitely expanded. Sometimes he can handle remembering to feed his tortoise, make his bed, getting dressed, etc. and other days I have to double check he has his shoes on before we get to school. I think he's constantly thinking/processing and mundane every days tasks are easy for him to push to the bottom of the priority list (much to my dismay some mornings).

While we do butt heads sometimes, overall Reed is a great kid. He can push my buttons like no one else but I love knowing that deep down he is a sweet and honest kid that others enjoy spending time with. I love that in 2nd grade he still is so innocent and full of wonder. I wish I could stop time for a bit but will do my best to remember the highlights because with Reed there are definitely lots!!!

Interesting Facts

Weight: 50.5lbs

Height: 4' 1.25"

Clothing Size: For the most part Reed wears a Big Kid Small or Medium depending on the brand/sizing

Shoe Size: Big Kid 1.5M or 2M depending on the brand

Reed likes: Reading, playing or watching video games, swimming, playing with Hotwheels, building Legos, riding his bike, playing soccer, and playing anything with Kieran.

Reed dislikes: When he's not in charge or when people have a different opinion than him.

Nicknames: Reedster, Buddy, Money #1, Reed-man, Darlin', Love, and Reeder.

Food: Reed still loves hot dogs, as well as pizza and hamburgers. He's added a new favorite to the list - seared Ahi Tuna. He will eat any meat, carb or fruit but is super picky when it comes to veggies and refuses to touch a bean. He's been trying to be open to new foods and has found he's a pretty big fan of raw bell peppers, yams, and lettuce. He is allergic to dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs.

Communication: Reed is a phenomenal reader. He is currently reading at a high 3rd grade/low 4th grade level and almost never goes to bed without reading at least a little bit. I always have a book with us and even if it's only going to be a 5 minute car ride he usually cracks it open to get a bit of reading in.

 

Favorite Colors: Blue and Orange


Favorite Subject: Reed is really liking social studies right now he also loves anytime his class gets to do science experiments.

Favorite Band/Song: Imaginary Friends by Leisure Time Astronauts, Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet, and Conga by Gloria Estefan

Best Friends: Switching schools has meant Reed reconnecting with his best friend from preschool. He says Wyatt is definitely his best friend at his new school but he also spends a lot of time with a new friend, Kevin. He still talks about Faith often and is sad he doesn't get to see her everyday.

How Reed is sleeping: He goes to bed around 7:45 pm and sleeps until around 6:30 am most mornings. He sleeps in a twin bed, with a night light and sound machines, and a few stuffed animals (Soft Sheep is always in the mix).

When he grows up he wants to be: a Farmer like Tio

Milestones over the last year:
Reed attended his first fieldtrip without Mom tagging along
The Reedster performed solo at Peach Blossom (poetry reading contest at Fresno State)
Reed learned how to tie his own shoes (finally)!!!
The Monkey experienced his first Earthquake (Ridgecrest magnitude 7.1)
Reed did the summer session of waterpolo and loved it

Five Years

At five years old I feel like Kieran is wise beyond his years and yet still my baby. He is so sharp and witty and often Jon and I are left in stitches when he says things at the dinner table. It's not only the content but the delivery that is pure perfection. Kier is definitely our more easy going second child and is usually willing to do whatever Reed wants, but he also is very independent about certain things. Out of nowhere he demanded to have his hair buzzed this summer, doesn't like to show his teeth in pictures anymore, and has always been the one to tell us that he is going to start to do something new/differently (no pushing from us needed).

While K is definitely a Mama's boy he is also very independent at times. He does his best to make his own breakfast, does all of his chores with out much reminding, and often gets out of bed to clean his room before falling asleep. I still find random things he's taken to bed with him or find him sleeping in some strange spot in his room. I love that he already seems to know who he is and wins over anyone he meets in short order.

People that interact with Kieran typically have the nicest, sweetest, kindest things to say about him. Don't get me wrong, if he's tired there is often no reasoning with him but those moments are becoming fewer and fewer and he makes me proud to be his Mom on a regular basis. He is a true gentleman in the making and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Interesting Facts

Weight: 37.5 lbs

Height: 43 inches

Clothing Size: 5T tops and pajamas, 4T shorts, and pants that are 4T are way too short, but are still loose around the waist

Shoe Size: Big Kid 11.5

Kieran likes: Playing with friends, superheroes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, legos, any of his Osmos games, going out to lunch, playing soccer, and watching Jon play video games.

Kieran dislikes: There really isn't much Kieran dislikes, I will say if he is hungry or tired he turns into an absolute inconsolable nightmare, which I very much dislike!

Nicknames: K, K-Bug, Monkey #2, Love, Buddy, Kier, Bug-a-boo

Food: Favorites are grilled cheese, quesadillas, pizza, cheeseburgers, pasta, snack plates, Starbucks steamed milk, smoothies, and desserts. He loves most carbs, dairy, fruits, and meats but veggies are definitely at the bottom of his list.

Communication: Kieran knows all of his letters (uppercase and lowercase), has learned lots of site words, and is obsessed with learning to read. He's actually pretty good at sounding out words and loves when we quiz him on how to spell words.

Favorite Subject: Definitely spelling/reading.

Favorite Color(s): Blue with orange in second place.

Best Friends: Lyla, Jeffrey, and Connor according to Kieran. He also said Teagan is another best friend.

How Kieran is sleeping:  He goes to bed around 7:30 pm and sleeps until  around 6:30 am most mornings. He sleeps in a twin bed, with a night light and sound machine as well as Star Wars blankie and a pile of stuffed animals. He has an hour of quiet time most afternoons but rarely naps.

Milestones over the last six months:

K had his first Soda

He took his first official hike (Redwood Canyon)

Kier went bowling for the first time

He officially learned how to swim

The Bug now takes a shower (instead of a bath) 

He now has homework every week

7 Years

I can't believe how old Reed is looking lately, he really is a BIG kid now. He is such a fast learner when it comes to things like math and reading, but other skills like tying shoes and taking a shower take a ton of patience on the part of Mom and Dad to get him to understand. Reed is super into science and loves watching old episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy, loves science experiments, and reading books about elements, dinosaurs and nature.

Reed is still definitely my sensitive kid. He gets super emotional about anything sentimental like looking at pictures of Dodger when he was a puppy or hearing stories about relatives that he's never met. For some reason he's able to really hold it together when it comes to situations that arise because of his allergies. If he isn't able to eat something it really is no big deal to him usually or at a minimum he'll hold it together until he can tell me later about the experience.

Currently I'm moving Reed from school to daycare 3 days a week and as much as I'd love not to have to leave work to do so, I really enjoy our 5 minute chats in the car ride. His teacher this year has very high standards as far as behavior in the classroom goes and Reed is really thriving. It's such a privilege to see the baby you snuggled with turn into such a responsible young kid.

Interesting Facts


Weight: 47.5lbs

Height: 3'  11.75"

Clothing Size: For the most part Reed wears a Big Kid S

Shoe Size: Big Kid 1M or 1.5M depending on the brand

Reed likes: Playing with Hotwheels, reading, building Legos, riding his bike, playing soccer, and playing anything with Kieran.

Reed dislikes: When people don't follow his rules or when he feels like people are being mean.

Nicknames: Reedster, Reedcito, Buddy, Monkey 1, Reed-man,  Darlin', and Reeder.

Food: His current favorite is hot dogs, followed closely by pizza and hamburgers. He will eat any meat, carb, or fruit but is super picky when it comes to veggies and refuses to touch a bean. He is allergic to dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs.

Communication: Reed can read! I'm not talking about sounding out words either, the kid can plow through a 32 page beginning reader book in a matter of a few minutes. He just completed his reading assessment at school and is a DRA level 18 (they aim for kids to be at a level 16 entering 2nd grade). He reads books to himself every night when he goes to bed and often times I have to tell him that it is time to go to sleep otherwise he would stay up for hours reading. He is also writing a bunch, his spelling isn't great but he gets his point across and often tries to tackle some really big words.

Favorite Subject: Reed absolutely loves math and anything having to do with numbers. Reading and science are definitely new favorites.

Favorite Color(s): Blue

Best Friends: Reed still loves Faith and says they play sometimes when he isn't playing soccer at recess. When he was super upset about something at school he told me he found her on the playground and that they built a house made out of woodchips and it made him feel better. He also says his classmate from last year, Victor, is a best friend and they hang out every day at school.

How Reed is sleeping:  He goes to bed around 7:45 pm and sleeps until around 6:30 am most mornings. He sleeps in a twin bed, with a night light and sound machine, and an assortment of stuffed animals (Soft Sheep is always in the mix). He rarely naps, but once in awhile if he's extra tired he might fall asleep in the car.

When he grows up he wants to be: a farmer like Tio

Milestones over the last year:

-Reed took a ride on a school bus for the first time (for a school fieldtrip)

-He had his first soda - rootbeer

-The poor guy took his first punch when a bully at school decked him for no reason

-The Monkey got to eat a donut for the first time

-One night he forgot Soft Sheep out in the living room and for the first time since he was six months old, slept without her (and didn't even notice)

-Reed took his first train ride (from Fresno to Hanford)

-He learned to do breaststroke, backstroke, and attempted butterfly this summer

-Reedman makes his own breakfast almost every morning

-He went on his first official hike (with Grandma and Grandpa in Redwood Canyon)

-Reed learned to tie his shoe

-The Reedster now takes a shower (instead of a bath)

Four and a Half Years

It's hard to believe this will be the last half year post I plan to ever do. While Kieran seems like a fairly mature four year old the thought of us being on the countdown to his fifth Birthday just boggles my mind. K is my cuddly kid. If we sleep in the same bed he must be touching me (or laying completely across me) at all times. If he is upset, even if I'm the one who is upsetting him, he usually just wants to be held. He is typically pretty easy going, letting Reed dictate the games they play and the rules they play by most of the time. However if this kid is hungry or tired he's pretty unreasonable and inconsolable. Usually when we get to that point he is fine once fed or if he can get comfortable somewhere he will pass out just about anywhere.

Kieran still takes a short nap on the days when he is at school and then naps are hit or miss when he is with the Grandmas or me. The kiddo is pretty tough and doesn't have a lot of fear but is going through a big anti-social phase. He rarely likes talking to adults and will usually clam up anytime he is put on the spot or spoken to. Kier is a little sponge and has learned a ton at school this year. When Reed reads to us at night he gets frustrated with how slow he goes and often will just try to read himself in hopes of being faster. This cute kiddo is so funny and truly one of my favorite people. We just love him to pieces and have found a lot of joy in watching him grow up so far!!!

Interesting Facts
Weight: 34.5 lbs


Height: 42 inches

Clothing Size:  4T and 5T tops and pajamas, he can still fit in 3T shorts, and we go back and forth between 3T and 4T pants but both are still big around the waist

Shoe Size: 11


Kieran likes: Playing with Superheroes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Hot Wheels. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, and doing anything outside or with Reed. Screen time favorites are Paw Patrol, Octonauts, Magic School Bus, movie nights, and watching soccer and baseball with Jon. He also loves working in the garden and playing with Dodger. 

Dislikes: Overall there isn't really anything he detests. He has definitely become more competitive with Reed and is much more likely to speak his mind if he doesn't like something.

Nicknames: Kier, K, K-Bug, Bug, Cuddle Bug, Boo

Food: This kid is a Snacker. He loves cheese, crackers, fruits, salami, prosciutto, nuts, and hard boiled eggs. I often joke about how he's going to be the best wine tasting buddy when he gets older. If asked he will say his favorite food is pizza. His favorite pizzas are olive, sausage, or pepperoni. He also loves anything with cheese - quesadillas, grilled cheese, mac n cheese. At home he sticks to a pretty Reed friendly diet but he loves eating out and being able to order things we don't get at home. Kieran's favorite places to eat are In-N-Out, Bella Rose, and Starbucks.

Communication: Kier has a pretty big vocabulary and I love watching people's reaction when he uses a big word. He knows all of his letters (upper and lower case) and what sounds they make. He can also write his own name as well as Reed's. 

Favorite Color(s): Blue


Best Friends: He loves to play with Connor and is so excited to get to school on the days he is there and K typically plays with Lyla and Jeffrey during preschool. He loves his brother so much and the feeling is definitely mutual. When the boys are getting along they are as thick as thieves and I can only hope they stay this close all of their lives.

Favorite Number: 10

How K is sleeping:  He goes to bed around 7:30/8:00 pm and sleeps until between 6:15 and 6:45 am most mornings. He sleeps in a twin bed, with a night light and sound machine on. In bed he has his Star Wars blankie and usually a couple stuffed animals. He still stock piles random toys in his bed most nights as well. As mentioned above, he will nap for about 45 minutes if he's tired in the afternoon.

Milestones over the last six months:

The Bug gets dressed almost every morning all by himself

Kieran learned how to ride a 2-wheel bike

His first freckle appeared

K has started to do a great job writing his name

He can clear his plate from the table

Kier was invited to a party for a friend he made at school